Dawn seen from Jerusalem’s temple height across the Kidron: the long dark ridge of the Mount of Olives with its olive groves, and a faint pure brightness resting on its crest under a pale empty sky.

The glory departs

Ezekiel 11

Has God ever met you in the place you were sent away to?

25 verses≈ 5 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

1–3Visions of gloryBy the Kebar, about 593 BC: the throne, the scroll, the watchman
4–7Signs of the siegeA brick, a ration, a razor: the end has come
8–11The glory departsAbout 592 BC: the temple’s abominations, the mark, the glory goes eastChapter 11
12–15False hopesExile acted out, false prophets, a useless vine
16–19Parables and lamentsAn unfaithful bride, two eagles, the one who sins
20–24The sword drawnRebellion retold; the siege begins, about 588 BC
25–32The nations judgedAmmon to Egypt: the LORD is Judge of all the earth
33–36A new heartThe city falls; the Good Shepherd; cleansed and made new
37–39Dry bones liveOne people raised up, and Gog of Magog defeated
40–48The LORD is thereAbout 573 BC: the new temple, the river, the land

Evil in High Places

Ezekiel

Late afternoon in the passage of a temple gateway: a group of Jerusalem officials in fine fringed wool robes standing close in council, some gesturing, one leaning on a staff.

Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the gate of the house of the LORD that faces east. And there at the entrance of the gate were twenty-five men. Among them I saw Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah son of Benaiah, who were leaders of the people.

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God

Close on a great bronze cauldron set on stones over a fire in a stone courtyard at dusk, choice joints of meat inside under a half-lifted lid, steam rising, a dark city wall behind.

And the LORD said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who plot evil and give wicked counsel in this city. They are saying, ‘Is not the time near to build houses? The city is the cooking pot, and we are the meat.’ Therefore prophesy against them; prophesy, O son of man!”

God

And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me and told me to declare that this is what the LORD says: “That is what you are thinking, O house of Israel; and I know the thoughts that arise in your minds. You have multiplied those you killed in this city and filled its streets with the dead.

God

Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: The slain you have laid within this city are the meat, and the city is the pot; but I will remove you from it. You fear the sword, so I will bring the sword against you, declares the Lord GOD. I will bring you out of the city and deliver you into the hands of foreigners, and I will execute judgments against you. You will fall by the sword, and I will judge you even to the borders of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

God

The city will not be a pot for you, nor will you be the meat within it. I will judge you even to the borders of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD. For you have neither followed My statutes nor practiced My ordinances, but you have conformed to the ordinances of the nations around you.”

Question

Quick question

Think back to the saying of the twenty-five men at the east gate.

What did Jerusalem’s leaders call their city?

A Promise of Restoration

Ezekiel

Now as I was prophesying, Pelatiah son of Benaiah died. Then I fell facedown and cried out in a loud voice, “Oh, Lord GOD, will You bring the remnant of Israel to a complete end?”

God

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, your brothers—your relatives, your fellow exiles, and the whole house of Israel—are those of whom the people of Jerusalem have said, ‘They are far away from the LORD; this land has been given to us as a possession.’

God

Evening in a mud-brick courtyard of the exiles’ settlement: a few Judean families on mats around one clay lamp, heads bowed in prayer, an old man with a scroll on his knees, palms dark against the last light.

Therefore declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries to which they have gone.’

God

Early spring morning in the Judean hills: old stone terraces green with young barley, olive trees in new leaf, and a stony road winding up toward a far ridge.

Therefore declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you from the countries to which you have been scattered, and I will give back to you the land of Israel.’

God

When they return to it, they will remove all its detestable things and all its abominations.

God

And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them; I will remove their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh, so that they may follow My statutes, keep My ordinances, and practice them. Then they will be My people, and I will be their God.

Ezekiel 11:19–20

God

But as for those whose hearts pursue detestable things and abominations, I will bring their conduct down upon their own heads, declares the Lord GOD.”

God’s Glory Leaves Jerusalem

Ezekiel

Then the cherubim, with the wheels beside them, spread their wings, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them. And the glory of the LORD rose up from within the city and stood over the mountain east of the city.

Ezekiel

Morning in a mud-brick courtyard: a prophet seen from behind on a low bench, speaking, and before him gray-bearded exile elders on mats, leaning in to listen.

And the Spirit lifted me up and carried me back to Chaldea, to the exiles in the vision given by the Spirit of God. After the vision had gone up from me, I told the exiles everything the LORD had shown me.

Pray

Lord GOD, You were a sanctuary for Your people far from home. Take away my heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh, that I may walk in Your ways and be Yours. Amen.

The glory departs

Whiteboard

Step by step the glory leaves, and Ezekiel will see it return.

You’ve experienced

Ezekiel 11

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A verse to carry with you

Ezekiel 11:19–20

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